diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index afe2cdf09..e02f2fa4a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@ This project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/).
 
 ## [unreleased] Unreleased
 
+### Added
+
+- The `WPLoader::silentlyActivatePlugins` configuration parameter to activate plugins without firing the `activated_plugin` action.
+
 ## [4.0.14] 2023-12-06;
 
 ### Added
diff --git a/docs/modules/WPLoader.md b/docs/modules/WPLoader.md
index 6cbe58227..5c541e98c 100644
--- a/docs/modules/WPLoader.md
+++ b/docs/modules/WPLoader.md
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ When used in this mode, the module supports the following configuration paramete
   `WP_PLUGIN_DIR` constant.
 * `plugins` - a list of plugins to activate and load in the WordPress installation. Each plugin must be specified in a
   format like `hello.php` or `my-plugin/my-plugin.php` format.
+* `silentlyActivatePlugins` - a list of plugins to activate **silently**, without firing their activation hooks. Depending on the plugin, a silent activation might cause the plugin to not work correctly. The list must be in the same format as the `plugins` parameter and plugin should be activated silently only if they are not working correctly during normal activation and are known to work correctly when activated silently.
 * `bootstrapActions` - a list of actions or callables to call **after** WordPress is loaded and before the tests run.
 * `theme` - the theme to activate and load in the WordPress installation. The theme must be specified in slug format
   like
diff --git a/src/Module/WPLoader.php b/src/Module/WPLoader.php
index ec9ceee9b..17511adb5 100644
--- a/src/Module/WPLoader.php
+++ b/src/Module/WPLoader.php
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ class WPLoader extends Module
      *     configFile: string|string[],
      *     pluginsFolder: string,
      *     plugins: string[],
+     *     silentlyActivatePlugins: string[],
      *     bootstrapActions: string|string[],
      *     theme: string,
      *     AUTH_KEY: string,
@@ -141,6 +142,7 @@ class WPLoader extends Module
         'configFile' => '',
         'pluginsFolder' => '',
         'plugins' => [],
+        'silentlyActivatePlugins' => [],
         'bootstrapActions' => '',
         'theme' => '',
         'AUTH_KEY' => '',
@@ -193,6 +195,37 @@ protected function validateConfig(): void
         $this->config['dbCharset'] = $this->config['DB_CHARSET'] ?? $this->config['dbCharset'] ?? '';
         $this->config['dbCollate'] = $this->config['DB_COLLATE'] ?? $this->config['dbCollate'] ?? '';
         $this->config['multisite'] = (bool)($this->config['WP_TESTS_MULTISITE'] ?? $this->config['multisite'] ?? false);
+
+        if (!(
+            is_array($this->config['plugins'])
+            && Arr::containsOnly($this->config['plugins'], 'string'))
+        ) {
+            throw new ModuleConfigException(
+                __CLASS__,
+                'The `plugins` configuration parameter must be an array of plugin names ' .
+                'in the my-plugin/plugin.php or plugin.php format.'
+            );
+        }
+
+        if (!(
+            is_array($this->config['silentlyActivatePlugins'])
+            && Arr::containsOnly($this->config['silentlyActivatePlugins'], 'string'))
+        ) {
+            throw new ModuleConfigException(
+                __CLASS__,
+                'The `silentlyActivatePlugins` configuration parameter must be an array of plugin names ' .
+                'in the my-plugin/plugin.php or plugin.php format.'
+            );
+        }
+
+        if (count(array_intersect($this->config['plugins'], $this->config['silentlyActivatePlugins']))) {
+            throw new ModuleConfigException(
+                __CLASS__,
+                'The `plugins` and `silentlyActivatePlugins` configuration parameters must not contain the ' .
+                'same plugins.'
+            );
+        }
+
         $this->config['theme'] = $this->config['WP_TESTS_MULTISITE'] ?? $this->config['theme'] ?? '';
 
         if (!is_string($this->config['theme'])) {
@@ -314,6 +347,7 @@ public function _initialize(): void
          *     configFile: string|string[],
          *     pluginsFolder: string,
          *     plugins: string[],
+         *     silentlyActivatePlugins: string[],
          *     bootstrapActions: string|string[],
          *     theme: string,
          *     AUTH_KEY: string,
@@ -645,14 +679,23 @@ private function activatePluginsSwitchThemeInSeparateProcess(): void
     {
         /** @var array<string> $plugins */
         $plugins = (array)($this->config['plugins'] ?: []);
+        $silentlyActivatePlugins = (array)($this->config['silentlyActivatePlugins'] ?: []);
+        $allPlugins = array_merge($plugins, $silentlyActivatePlugins);
         $multisite = (bool)($this->config['multisite'] ?? false);
         $closuresFactory = $this->getCodeExecutionFactory();
+        $silentFlags = array_merge(
+            array_fill(0, count($plugins), false),
+            array_fill(0, count($silentlyActivatePlugins), true)
+        );
 
         $jobs = array_combine(
-            array_map(static fn(string $plugin): string => 'plugin::' . $plugin, $plugins),
+            array_map(static fn(string $plugin): string => 'plugin::' . $plugin, $allPlugins),
             array_map(
-                static fn(string $plugin): Closure => $closuresFactory->toActivatePlugin($plugin, $multisite),
-                $plugins
+                static function (string $plugin, bool $silent) use ($closuresFactory, $multisite): Closure {
+                    return $closuresFactory->toActivatePlugin($plugin, $multisite, $silent);
+                },
+                $allPlugins,
+                $silentFlags
             )
         );
 
diff --git a/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/ActivatePluginAction.php b/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/ActivatePluginAction.php
index 47f6a3826..fcac7555f 100644
--- a/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/ActivatePluginAction.php
+++ b/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/ActivatePluginAction.php
@@ -17,22 +17,23 @@ public function __construct(
         FileRequest $request,
         string $wpRootDir,
         string $plugin,
-        bool $multisite
+        bool $multisite,
+        bool $silent = false
     ) {
         $request->setTargetFile($wpRootDir . '/wp-load.php')
             ->runInFastMode($wpRootDir)
             ->defineConstant('MULTISITE', $multisite)
-            ->addAfterLoadClosure(fn() => $this->activatePlugin($plugin, $multisite));
+            ->addAfterLoadClosure(fn() => $this->activatePlugin($plugin, $multisite, $silent));
         $this->request = $request;
     }
 
     /**
      * @throws InstallationException
      */
-    private function activatePlugin(string $plugin, bool $multisite): void
+    private function activatePlugin(string $plugin, bool $multisite, bool $silent = false): void
     {
         require_once ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/plugin.php';
-        $activated = activate_plugin($plugin, '', $multisite);
+        $activated = activate_plugin($plugin, '', $multisite, $silent);
         $activatedString = $multisite ? 'network activated' : 'activated';
         $message = "Plugin $plugin could not be $activatedString.";
 
diff --git a/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/CodeExecutionFactory.php b/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/CodeExecutionFactory.php
index f47166358..3d095096f 100644
--- a/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/CodeExecutionFactory.php
+++ b/src/WordPress/CodeExecution/CodeExecutionFactory.php
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ public function toCheckIfWpIsInstalled(bool $multisite): Closure
             ->getClosure();
     }
 
-    public function toActivatePlugin(string $plugin, bool $multisite): Closure
+    public function toActivatePlugin(string $plugin, bool $multisite, bool $silent = false): Closure
     {
         $request = $this->requestFactory->buildGetRequest()
             ->blockHttpRequests()
             ->setRedirectFiles($this->redirectFiles)
             ->addPresetGlobalVars($this->presetGlobalVars);
 
-        return (new ActivatePluginAction($request, $this->wpRootDir, $plugin, $multisite))
+        return (new ActivatePluginAction($request, $this->wpRootDir, $plugin, $multisite, $silent))
             ->getClosure();
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/lucatume/WPBrowser/Events/Module/WPLoaderTest.php b/tests/unit/lucatume/WPBrowser/Events/Module/WPLoaderTest.php
index 516f43b45..5ac694ea1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/lucatume/WPBrowser/Events/Module/WPLoaderTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/lucatume/WPBrowser/Events/Module/WPLoaderTest.php
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 use lucatume\WPBrowser\WordPress\InstallationException;
 use lucatume\WPBrowser\WordPress\InstallationState\InstallationStateInterface;
 use lucatume\WPBrowser\WordPress\InstallationState\Scaffolded;
+use PHPUnit\Framework\AssertionFailedError;
 use PHPUnit\Framework\TestResult;
 use stdClass;
 use tad\Codeception\SnapshotAssertions\SnapshotAssertions;
@@ -2396,16 +2397,7 @@ public function should_skip_installation_when_skip_install_is_true(): void
                 'woocommerce'
             ]
         ]);
-        if (!mkdir($wpRootDir . '/tests/some_test_suite', 0777, true)) {
-            throw new \RuntimeException('Failed to create the test suite folder.');
-        }
-        $moduleContainerConfig = [
-            'config' => [
-                'suite' => 'some_test_suite',
-                'path' => $wpRootDir . '/tests/some_test_suite'
-            ]
-        ];
-        $moduleConfig = [
+        $this->config = [
             'wpRootFolder' => $wpRootDir,
             'dbUrl' => $installationDb->getDbUrl(),
             'tablePrefix' => 'test_',
@@ -2415,7 +2407,7 @@ public function should_skip_installation_when_skip_install_is_true(): void
         ];
 
         // Run the module a first time: it should create the flag file indicating the database was installed.
-        $wpLoader = $this->module($moduleContainerConfig, $moduleConfig);
+        $wpLoader = $this->module();
         $moduleSplObjectHash = spl_object_hash($wpLoader);
         $this->assertInIsolation(
             static function () use ($wpLoader, $moduleSplObjectHash) {
@@ -2463,7 +2455,7 @@ static function () use ($wpLoader, $moduleSplObjectHash) {
         $this->assertEquals('twentytwenty', $checkDb->getOption('stylesheet'));
 
         // Run a second time, this time the installation should be skipped.
-        $wpLoader = $this->module($moduleContainerConfig, $moduleConfig);
+        $wpLoader = $this->module();
         $this->assertInIsolation(
             static function () use ($moduleSplObjectHash, $wpLoader) {
                 $beforeInstallCalled = false;
@@ -2499,9 +2491,9 @@ static function () use ($moduleSplObjectHash, $wpLoader) {
         );
 
         // Now run in --debug mode, the installation should run again.
-        $wpLoader = $this->module($moduleContainerConfig, $moduleConfig);
+        $wpLoader = $this->module();
         $this->assertInIsolation(
-            static function () use ($moduleSplObjectHash, $wpLoader) {
+            static function () use ($wpLoader) {
                 $beforeInstallCalled = false;
                 $afterInstallCalled = false;
                 $afterBootstrapCalled = false;
@@ -2539,4 +2531,161 @@ static function () use ($moduleSplObjectHash, $wpLoader) {
             }
         );
     }
+
+    /**
+     * It should throw if silentlyActivatePlugins config parameter is not a list of strings
+     *
+     * @test
+     * @dataProvider notArrayOfStringsProvider
+     */
+    public function should_throw_if_silently_activate_plugins_config_parameter_is_not_a_list_of_strings($input): void
+    {
+        $wpRootDir = Env::get('WORDPRESS_ROOT_DIR');
+        $db = (new Installation($wpRootDir))->getDb();
+        $this->config = [
+            'wpRootFolder' => $wpRootDir,
+            'dbUrl' => $db->getDbUrl(),
+            'silentlyActivatePlugins' => $input,
+        ];
+
+        $this->expectException(ModuleConfigException::class);
+
+        $this->module();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * It should throw if plugin appears in both plugins and silentlyActivatePlugins config parameters
+     *
+     * @test
+     */
+    public function should_throw_if_plugin_appears_in_both_plugins_and_silently_activate_plugins_config_parameters(
+    ): void
+    {
+        $wpRootDir = Env::get('WORDPRESS_ROOT_DIR');
+        $db = (new Installation($wpRootDir))->getDb();
+        $this->config = [
+            'wpRootFolder' => $wpRootDir,
+            'dbUrl' => $db->getDbUrl(),
+            'plugins' => ['woocommerce/woocommerce.php', 'my-plugin/plugin.php'],
+            'silentlyActivatePlugins' => ['foo-plugin/plugin.php', 'woocommerce/woocommerce.php'],
+        ];
+
+        $this->expectException(ModuleConfigException::class);
+
+        $this->module();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * It should fail to activate when plugins generate unexpected output
+     *
+     * @test
+     */
+    public function should_fail_to_activate_when_plugins_generate_unexpected_output(): void
+    {
+        $wpRootDir = FS::tmpDir('wploader_');
+        $installation = Installation::scaffold($wpRootDir);
+        $dbName = Random::dbName();
+        $dbHost = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_HOST');
+        $dbUser = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_USER');
+        $dbPassword = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD');
+        $installationDb = new MysqlDatabase($dbName, $dbUser, $dbPassword, $dbHost, 'wp_');
+        $installation->configure($installationDb);
+        $this->copyOverContentFromTheMainInstallation($installation, [
+            'plugins' => [
+                'woocommerce'
+            ]
+        ]);
+        // Create a plugin that will raise a doing_it_wrong error on activation.
+        FS::mkdirp($wpRootDir . '/wp-content/plugins', [
+            'my-plugin' => [
+                'plugin.php' => <<< PHP
+<?php
+/** Plugin Name: DIW Plugin */
+
+function activate_my_plugin(){
+    echo 'Something went wrong';
+}
+
+register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'activate_my_plugin' );
+PHP
+            ]
+        ]);
+
+        $this->config = [
+            'wpRootFolder' => $wpRootDir,
+            'dbUrl' => $installationDb->getDbUrl(),
+            'tablePrefix' => 'test_',
+            'plugins' => ['woocommerce/woocommerce.php', 'my-plugin/plugin.php'],
+        ];
+
+        // Run a first initialization that should fail due to the doing_it_wrong error.
+        $wpLoader = $this->module();
+
+        $this->expectException(ModuleException::class);
+
+        $this->assertInIsolation(
+            static function () use ($wpLoader) {
+                $wpLoader->_initialize();
+            }
+        );
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * It should allow activating plugins silently
+     *
+     * @test
+     */
+    public function should_allow_activating_plugins_silently(): void
+    {
+        $wpRootDir = FS::tmpDir('wploader_');
+        $installation = Installation::scaffold($wpRootDir);
+        $dbName = Random::dbName();
+        $dbHost = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_HOST');
+        $dbUser = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_USER');
+        $dbPassword = Env::get('WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD');
+        $installationDb = new MysqlDatabase($dbName, $dbUser, $dbPassword, $dbHost, 'wp_');
+        $installation->configure($installationDb);
+        $this->copyOverContentFromTheMainInstallation($installation, [
+            'plugins' => [
+                'woocommerce'
+            ]
+        ]);
+        // Create a plugin that will raise a doing_it_wrong error on activation.
+        FS::mkdirp($wpRootDir . '/wp-content/plugins', [
+            'my-plugin' => [
+                'plugin.php' => <<< PHP
+<?php
+/** Plugin Name: DIW Plugin */
+
+function activate_my_plugin(){
+    echo 'Something went wrong';
+    update_option('my_plugin_activated', '__activated__');
+}
+
+register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'activate_my_plugin' );
+update_option('my_plugin_loaded', '__loaded__');
+PHP
+            ]
+        ]);
+
+        $this->config = [
+            'wpRootFolder' => $wpRootDir,
+            'dbUrl' => $installationDb->getDbUrl(),
+            'tablePrefix' => 'test_',
+            'plugins' => ['woocommerce/woocommerce.php'],
+            'silentlyActivatePlugins' => ['my-plugin/plugin.php'],
+        ];
+
+        // Run a first initialization that should fail due to the doing_it_wrong error.
+        $wpLoader = $this->module();
+
+        $this->assertInIsolation(
+            static function () use ($wpLoader) {
+                $wpLoader->_initialize();
+
+                assertEquals('', get_option('my_plugin_activated'));
+                assertEquals('__loaded__', get_option('my_plugin_loaded'));
+            }
+        );
+    }
 }